Using Human Examples in Biblical Teaching Without Overshadowing Scripture
Scripture itself employs human examples extensively to illuminate divine truth. The biblical parable places one subject beside another for comparison and illustration [1], and this method appears throughout both Testaments—from the prophetic utterances of Numbers and Ezekiel to the teaching parables of Jesus. The question is not whether to use human examples, but how to use them without displacing the authority of the text itself.
The Biblical Precedent
Christ himself "taught out of" Scripture [8] while simultaneously using human situations to clarify spiritual realities. The parable form demonstrates that illustration serves revelation rather than replacing it. When Jesus appealed to Scripture in his temptation [8], he established the primacy of God's word over human reasoning, yet his teaching ministry was saturated with examples drawn from agriculture, commerce, and family life. The distinction lies in function: examples illuminate what Scripture has already established; they do not generate doctrine independently.
The Danger of Displacement
Paul warns the Colossians against being taken captive "through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ" [3]. The danger is not in using human examples but in allowing them to become the foundation. When a teacher's personal story, a cultural hero, or a contemporary illustration becomes more memorable than the biblical text it was meant to clarify, the example has overshadowed Scripture. The Hebrews were urged to leave "the teaching of the first principles of Christ" and "press on to perfection" [6]—a movement that assumes the foundation remains Scripture, not human commentary upon it.
Christ as the Model
The New Testament consistently presents Christ as the supreme example—of self-denial [5], sincerity [7], and liberality [2]—yet always in service of revealing God's character and purposes. Hebrews emphasizes that Christ "has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin" [4], making his humanity an interpretive lens for understanding both divine holiness and human struggle. This is not mere illustration but incarnational revelation. Human examples in teaching should function analogously: they clarify what Scripture reveals about God and humanity, but they derive their authority from the text, not from their rhetorical power.
The preaching of the gospel must be marked by sincerity [7], which includes honest acknowledgment of when we are offering human insight versus divine revelation. Examples serve Scripture best when they remain transparently subordinate to it.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
- Colossians “Colossians 2:8 (NASB) — See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
- Hebrews “For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. -- Hebrews 4:15”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Hebrews “Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, -- Hebrews 6:1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”